Five Alabama mayors gather at retreat to discuss issues

From left: Tuscaloosa Mayor Walt Maddox, Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Birmingham Mayor William Bell, Montgomery Mayor Todd Strange, and Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson at the Stimpson family lodge in Clarke County, Ala., on Jan. 31, 2014. (photo supplied by George Talbot with the city of Mobile).

MOBILE, Alabama – Five mayors from Alabama's largest cities
met last weekend at Mobile Mayor Sandy Stimpson's family lodge near Jackson.

It was the first known time that the mayors of the five
largest Alabama cities held a retreat to discuss issues affecting their
respective cities.

The group had no formal agenda but shared ideas and best
practices on significant challenges facing their communities, from public
safety and municipal finance to regulatory and economic issues, according to
George Talbot, Mobile's director of communications and external affairs.

Stimpson, who took office on Nov. 4, said he was pleased to
host the meeting after the idea was originally suggested by Strange and Maddox.

"Being the newest mayor, I had more to gain than anyone else
simply by listening to some of their experiences," he said. "It was very
enlightening for me to hear how each of the mayors handles the difficult,
day-to-day challenges that each of us face."

The mayors said they felt the retreat was time well
spent.

"Mayors are best positioned to change the future of our
communities," Maddox said in a news release issued by Talbot. "The information
exchanged over the last 24 hours has given each of us new ideas to go home and
implement."

The retreat opened at 2 p.m. Sunday and concluded around 11
a.m. Monday.

"When we work together, we can do great things for our
entire state," Battle said. "There's no question these relationships will
benefit us but more importantly, they will pay dividends for the people we are
elected to serve."

Stimpson, on Tuesday, said another retreat is scheduled for
June. The location is yet to be announced, but Stimpson said the group enjoyed
the relaxed and distraction-free environment setting in rural Clarke County.